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Mercer Back In Front At HMS

The Bojangles Late Models entertained the fans during their 100-lap feature event with the No. 51 of Josh Wimbish bringing the field to the green flag. The No. 43 of Jesse LeFevers was hot during the first half of the feature taking over the lead on lap five from Wimbish. LeFevers and Wimbish traded the lead back and forth until LeFevers pulled away on lap nine. The No. 10 of Andy Mercer grabbed the second place position on lap 12, leaving Wimbish to ride around third. The No. 5 of Dexter Canipe Jr. worked his way into the top five by lap 16, bringing the No. 92 of Candace Muzny along for the ride. Canipe Jr. took over the fourth place position on lap 20, with Muzny cracking the top five on lap 22.

Mercer and LeFevers began a tight battle for the lead on lap 29, exchanging the lead until lap 37 when the first and only caution fell after the No. 2 of Jessica Brunnelli spun heading out of turn one, sending her car hard into the outside wall. Mercer led the field to the green. The restart worked out in Canipe Jr.’s favor putting him in position to take over third. Muzny made her way back into the top five by lap 46 and began working on Wimbish for fourth, moving into the position on lap 55. As Muzny continued to move towards the front, Canipe Jr. and LeFevers maintained a battle for second with Canipe Jr. settling into the spot on lap 70.

With 20 laps to go Muzny had reeled in LeFevers as she set her sights on the third place spot, grabbing the position on lap 88. Wimbish quickly darted around Muzny to take over third on lap 93, leaving Muzny to ride around fourth. Mercer grabbed the checkers with Canipe Jr., Wimbish, Muzny and LeFevers rounding out the top five.

The excitement started early during the Advance Auto Parts Limiteds 35-lap race when the No. 37 of Landon Huffman and the No. 15 of Sheflon Clay connected heading into turn two just as the field took the green. Clay’s ride went for a spin collecting the No. 37 of Travis Sigmon bringing out the first caution. It was smooth sailing, until lap seven when a second caution fell due to debris on the track. A tight battle for the lead continued all 35 laps, beginning with the No. 5 of pole sitter Dexter Canipe Jr. and the No. 07 of Tyler Church. Church grabbed the lead on lap 10, but Canipe Jr. stuck by his side until lap 12 when he regained the lead, leaving Church and the No. 28 of Keith Bumgarner to battle for second. Bumgarner grabbed the position on lap 14, causing Church to ride around third.

Just as Bumgarner settled into second he set his sights on Canipe Jr. looking for a shot at the lead. It didn’t take Bumgarner long to move out front, taking over the position on lap 19. On lap 25 a third caution fell as the No. 21 of Monty Cox rolled to stop on the back stretch. The No. 8 of Mark McIntosh was on fire making his way into the second place position by lap 27, pushing Canipe Jr. into third. With five laps remaining Canipe Jr. rallied back moving back into the second place spot.

Caution number four waved on lap 31 when the No. 09 of Kenneth Pardue spun around heading out of turn three colleting the No. 22 of Brian Murphy and the No. 03 of Russell Stillwell. The No. 83 of David Hasson spun to avoid the stalled ride of Pardue, but made contact with the front end of Pardue’s ride. The red flag was brought out to give track officials and safety crew members an opportunity to clean up debris on the track. Track officials didn’t like what they saw during the restart bringing out the fifth and final caution. Bumgarner continued out front as the field made a second attempt to go green flag racing leaving Canipe Jr. and Church to duke it out for second. The two ran side by side during the final laps, but it was Canipe Jr. who would inch ahead to grab the second place spot, leaving Church to come home third. McIntosh and the No. 11 of Matt Piercy completed the top five.